Disney's Art of Animation Resort Review

*Disclaimer: Prices above are provided by partners...
Prices above are provided by partners for one room, double occupancy and do not include all taxes and fees. Please see our partners for full details.

Prices above are provided by partners for one room, double occupancy and do not include all taxes and fees. Please see our partners for full details.

Editor’s Review of Disney's Art of Animation Resort

JackiePerrin

Value Resort

The newest -- and arguably most colorful -- hotel to debut at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney's Art of Animation Resort brightens the Hollywood Studios and Epcot neighborhood scenes with bright, bold and endearing images, along with a spectacular main pool, innovative dining options and space-stretching family suites.

Opened in 2012, the 864-room, 1,120-suite Disney value-category resort spans 87 acres and features both wet and dry playgrounds, a fun-filled animation-themed arcade, convenient access to ESPN Wide World of Sports and a bridge to the similarly sprawling Pop Century Resort nearby. Situated on Hourglass Lake, the resort occupies land ... more
originally intended to be the "Later Years" phase of Disney's Pop Century Resort, a pop-culture-themed, value-priced property that debuted in 2003.

At the "Finding Nemo"-themed Big Blue Pool -- the largest water playground on Disney resort property -- kids can make waves with Mr. Ray and pose and play with a host of similarly massive soft sculpture characters. At the Schoolyard Sprayground nearby, little ones can splash safely along with Nemo and friends, and at the adjacent Righteous Reef dry playground, they can slide, climb and crawl through tunnels while supervised by the loveable toddler turtle, Squirt.

After a busy day at the parks, families can dive in to a daily dance party extravaganza, watch a Disney movie on an inflatable screen and play fun-filled games, ranging from Splashin' Sebastian to Beach Ball Blast. When thirst and hunger call, guests can order up a Frozen Orange Burst and from the Drop Off Pool Bar, or arrange for delivery of an in-room feast of pizza, pasta, grilled fish or stir-fry. At The Landscape of Flavors Food Court, five stations serve up a variety of innovative fare, from Tandoori Shrimp to Create Your Own Pasta, and a fresh beverage bar features made-to-order lemonade, limeade, fruit smoothies and specialty tea and coffee drinks. less

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*Prices above are provided by partners for one room, double occupancy and do not include all taxes and fees. Please see our partners for full details.

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Rooms

Accommodations are located in four neighborhoods of three-story buildings, each adorned with larger-than-life images playing homage to a range of Disney and Disney Pixar films, including "Cars," "Finding Nemo," "The Little Mermaid" and "The Lion King." Inside, guests will find amazing attention to colorful details, from cozy cone lighting accessories and Bruce the shark shower curtains to ornate hot pink seashell-accented mirrors fit for a mermaid princess.

Family Suites
Destined to delight children, highly themed Family Suites (1,120 total) sleep up to six and are located exclusively in the "Cars," "Finding Nemo" and "The Lion King" sections. At 565-square-feet, suites are slightly larger than two standard rooms and feature two bathrooms, a master bedroom with a queen bed, and a living area with a kitchenette, a full-size sofa bed and an InnovaTableBed -- a dining table which seats four and conveniently converts into a Murphy bed. Kitchenettes contain a microwave, a mini-fridge and a coffee maker, and are stocked with disposable paper goods.

Unlike accommodations at other Disney Value resorts, suites at Disney's Art of Animation are accessible via internal walkways, which, depending on your outlook and desire for privacy, might be a plus or minus.

Standard Rooms
Standard rooms (864 total) measure around 277square feet and are situated solely in "The Little Mermaid" section. Typical in configuration but not in character, these accommodations contain two double beds or a king size bed and sleep up to four guests. King size beds are available upon request, but are not guaranteed. Décor and furnishings match the aquatic theme, with starfish-print linens, clamshell-shaped headboards and hot-pink mirrors with seashell accents. Standard rooms contain a single vanity positioned outside the bathroom and a mini-fridge. Coffee makers are not available. There is a small surcharge per person, per night for more than two adults in a standard room, although more than a couple will likely be more comfortable in a Family Suite. Unlike suites in other sections, rooms in "The Little Mermaid" neighborhood are accessed via exterior corridors. They are also furthest from Animation Hall dining and activities.
Connecting rooms, complimentary bed rails, Pack 'N Plays and free Wi-Fi are available.

With regard to room location, many families might favor suites in the "Finding Nemo" section for their close proximity to the Big Blue Pool. The downside of this location is the noise factor, although the resort does maintain quiet hours beginning at 11 p.m. If your kids are light sleepers and pool proximity is important to you, request an upper, non-pool-facing accommodation. Suites in "The Lion King" section, which lacks a pool, are also convenient to the Big Blue Pool. For families seeking a more sedate swimming experience and a super-charged theme, suites in the "Cars" section deliver a fully immersive in-room animation experience, along with easy access to the adorably themed Cozy Cone pool, featuring complimentary traffic cone-shaped cabanas.